What Are You Hungry For?

Upside Down 

What Are You Hungry For? 

Matthew 5:6

“Thou hast made us for thyself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee” St. Augustine

An Intense Desire

“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1–2, ESV)

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1, ESV)

1. This desire is Supreme
2. This desire is Continuous
3. This desire is Ever-Growing

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:2–3, ESV)

Three Aspects of Righteousness

1. Legal - Justification

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” (Romans 3:21–22, ESV)

2. Moral – Sanctification – An inner righteousness that works itself out in one’s living in conformity to God’s will.

“I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”” (Psalm 40:8, ESV)

“But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11, ESV)

3. Social

“learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” (Isaiah 1:17, ESV)

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” (Matthew 25:34–40, ESV)

“And social righteousness, as we learn from the law and the prophets, is concerned with seeking man’s liberation from oppression, together with the promotion of civil rights, justice in the law courts, integrity in business dealings and honour in home and family affairs. Thus Christians are committed to hunger for righteousness in the whole human community as something pleasing to a righteous God.”  John Stott

God’s Provision For Our Hungering and Thirsting

• Filled/Satisfied – Satiated

“For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.” (Psalm 107:9, ESV)

“but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”” (John 4:14, ESV)

“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35, ESV)

“They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”” (Revelation 7:16–17, ESV)

What Habits or Practices Help Me To Hunger and Thirst For Righteousness?

1. Identify competitors for my heart’s affections
   “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.” (Isaiah 55:2, ESV)
   Even a good thing becomes a bad thing when it becomes a ruling thing in my life!
2. Choose to spend quality time in God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16–17)
3. Converse regularly with God in prayer (Hebrews 4:16)
4. Connect with other obedient believers (Hebrews 10:25)
5. Change the way you view problems (James 1:2–4)
6. Commit to pleasing God in all my actions (2 Corinthians 5:9)
7. Charge through my quitting points (Philippians 3:13–14)
8. Count on God’s faithfulness (Philippians 1:6)

 Making It Personal:

• Have you personally experienced the righteousness that only comes through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ?
• How are you inclined to respond when you see unrighteousness in society? Any adjustments God is calling you to make?
• What steps will you take to better cooperate with God in growing your hunger and thirst for righteousness?
• Who can you share these truths with?

Ready to take your Next Step?

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